St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-12-24
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.


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So many of the native trees. fruits
and vegetables of the other side of the
Atlantic have something near their
equals or parallels on this side that i,
is no more than logical to think that
we may have . native trufilc. and not
at all unreasonable or Improbable
that endcavors should be made to find
it To be sure we hear that = native
but inferior black truffic has been
found in Western and Southwestern
Louisiana in tho vicinity Of Opelousas
in the Attackapas country. and on the
Red river. in the neighborhood Of
NatchitochcA That this should be the
chosen habitat OF the native trufle in
preference TO regions farther east and
north is natural. because the truffic is
. production Of warm. If not hot.
climates. and is rarely If ever found in
regions where there is any thing like
killing and continued fros,s. And. be-
sides. though the mystery that shrouds
the reproduction of the truffle has
been . mystery for thousand years.
1t is worth while to consider whether
the French emiSrant Catholic fathers
Of that region might not have brought.
unknown to them. Of course. the
mycelium Of the truffle to the New
World. That it should have changed
in its character and. perhaps. lost
some of the excellence Of the parent is
not surprising after two or three CEN
turtles Of fighting for life in the New
World; nor is it singular that it should
have fourishcd in the region Of the
Red river for hundred years without
being heard from But il there is
really a native truflle it will probably.
II anywhere. be found in that wonder
fully richly endowed State. North
Carolina, the native trees and vege-
table productions Of which are equal
to any other half dozen States Of the
Union.
In Perigorl Francc). L. Qucrey
and Angoumais. where the production
Of truffies is of much Importance. the
general belief is that there is an init
mate connection between it and the
pubesccnt or hairy oak. In the de-
partments Of Vaucluse and the Lower
Alps the same intimate relation be-
tween the two is recognized. but at the
same time the evergreen oak enjoys
= like distinction. In the latter de-
partment the pubcscent is called the
white oak. and there is = considerable
close resemblance between our white
oak for the one and our live oak
for tho other. II it be established that
two species Of oak favor the develop
ment Of the trnffie, and that in their
and under their shelter
the most productive beds are found.
they are far from being the only trees
that can claim that high reputation.
Forty other species Of trees are believed
TO have . direct influence on tho pro-
duction. chief among which are the
elm. iilbcrt three unnamed species Of
oak. the ash, linn. birch and the three
pines. In presence Of these
facts it IS probably true that the
variety Of tree has little to do with the
and production Of the
tubcr beyond preparing tho ground
for it.
After trees. and there are no beds
Of truffles without trees. the pre-
dominant influence on truffle produc-
tion is limestone or calcareOus soil.
Thus the truffle beds of Perigord. LIE
Quercy. etc. are on calcareous land OF
jarassic formation, and the best beds
II the Southeast are situated on similar
lands. 1t is also worthy of remark
hat the soil Of the most renowned
beds contains carbonate Of lime. sand.
:lay. oxide of iron. the phosphates and
certain alkalies. with tribe Of or
yanic matter The presence of lime
'tonc does not seem to have a sensible
influence on tho quality Of the truffle.
But the oxides Of iron play IN i'm
,ortant part and their presence is in
lispensable to its production and high |
quality. 1t is certain that the best
ruffies are gathered from soils colored
y sesquioxide or peroxide Of iron.
Trnffies are never found where
here is an impermeable soil or sub
oil. 1t is also observed that forests
where truffies are found have q warm
exposure. The truffle is
'ever found in cool or cold climates
Tor in very hot ones The truffle beds
ire nearly always found on the clear
ngs on hillsides and on elevated level
and; they are almost unknown in
alleys But this is q fact character
site Of truffic beds: ''Thc disappear
lncc Of all species Of vegetation on the
urfacc Of the ground whore the
ruffics are in the course OF develop
nent; their absence during the time
he truffles occupy the land and the re-
appearance of vegetation just as soon
5 the truffies have given out" These
Indications render it easy to recognise
There the truffle is to be found in
Europe. and will probably
Q safe guide to follow in hunting
,r it in clearings Of the forest and on
he banks Of the Red river in Louis
ina in the openings on the hill-sides
nd pla:eaus of southern aspect in
fiddle and Southern North Carolina,
nd. We may safely add. on similar
ills in like situation in the mount
nous regions Of South Carolina,
corgia and Tennessee. |.
Bees and Fruit.
Tho editor of the Southern Planter
lates tho following experience with .
neyard which he had planted with
.cat care Soma voara urovionalx..